Innovative projects on sustainable energy access in Africa

25 November 2013. Brussels. On the occasion of the European Development Days in Brussels, WWForganised an evening debate where two of its main and innovative projects on sustainable energy access in Africa were presented.

WWF showed how together with the Indian Barefoot College it train grandmothers from Madagascar to become solar engineers and electrify their village and how a district in Uganda becomes a champion of renewable energy.

The first joint project "Turning Grandmothers into Solar Engineers" takes place in Madagascar, a country where more than 80% of the population still lives without electricity in 2013.

Seven Malagasy grandmothers were trained for six months at the Barefoot College in India, and will now start electrifying their villages with solar energy in the most remote areas of Madagascar. They will assemble and maintain solar systems at affordable costs for the communities. The project will have important positive impacts on health, education, empowering women and security in the villages.

Published on 25 Nov 2013 by WWF

WWF presented also its new report “Boa Nguvu: An African sustainable energy country” which showcases energy practices across Africa and demonstrates how the continent could move to a future of renewable energy.

This was followed by a debate on the ways international institutions, national governments, NGOs and businesses can collaborate to ensure modern energy services, community development and environmental protection for all.

Boa Nguvu: An AfricAan Sustainable energy country
Published in May 2013 by WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature
By Smail Khennas, Stuart Coupe and Jean-Philippe Denruyter
68 pages
Page 50 to 52 develops the theme Bio energy from waste and residues.